I refer to the Malaysiakini report Confirmed: New anti-graft body will not have prosecutory powers.

Pak Lah has finally made some effort to address the highly critical corrupt practices plaguing the country which have reached very alarming levels.

However, without independence given to the Malaysian Commission for Anti-Corruption (MCAC), there will always be room for interference and pressure from outside to influence the investigation and prosecution.

Pak Lah compared MCAC to that of Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

ICAC was established by Governor Murray Maclehose in 1974 to clean up endemic corruption in the Hong Kong government and in particular, the Royal Hong Kong Police.

The ICAC is independent of the civil service and used to be answerable to the governor before Hong Kong's hand-over to China. Today, its powers are the same and ICAC reports directly to the chief executive.

If Pak Lah thinks MCAC is the same as ICAC, he is greatly mistaken. For MCAC to work without any hindrances, it must be independent and report directly to the prime minister. No part of the civil service should have any connection to it.

This way, high level corruption can be investigated and prosecuted in a totally transparent and independent manner.

ICAC's independence and effectiveness to clean up corruption in Hong Kong, was highly acclaimed. If MCAC is expected to deliver similar results but not given the full powers to perform its duties, then I see no difference between it and the Anti-Corruption Agency, with its layers of bureaucracy. Consider it another new window dressing.

What we want to see is a truly independent anti-corruption commission that works on its own and reports directly to the PM. Pak Lah should have measured twice and cut once and done something like what Maclehose did to restore dignity and pride in the civil service.

Pak Lah’s actions now are widely seen as half-baked efforts to try and silence the critics and those who have been demanding firm and stricter enforcement.